Henrico deputy killed in Goochland crash early Thursday

ROCKVILLE, VA (WWBT) -

A Henrico County Sheriff's Deputy was killed in a crash in Goochland early Thursday morning.

Deputy Gabriel Pearce of Rockville was killed around 2:40 a.m. Thursday on Rockville Road just south of Echo Meadows Road, when his vehicle went off the road and struck several trees, authorities said. According to the Goochland County Sheriff's Department, Pearce, 23, was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash, and was ejected from his vehicle.

Henrico County Sheriff Mike Wade said Pearce was a recent graduate of VCU who had participated in the Sheriff's Office Academy last summer. He started full-time at the Henrico County Jail West in April. Wade described Pearce as well-liked by everyone, and a hard worker.